Expert Opinion

Chris R. NHL Strength Coach 1990-2005

I believe the MAXIMUS Fitness Accelerator device should be used on and off the ice for improving cardiorespiratory fitness.  Mostly HIIT - High-Intensity Interval Training work for anaerobic lactate threshold, interval sprints on and off the ice. 

I think you need to look at your current baseline times and heart rate for specific training, etc., and then employ the usage of the MAXIMUS device to improve your lung muscles strength, increase lung capacity, strengthen your diaphragm, increase anaerobic threshold, VO2 Max and improve overall physical, strength, stamina and endurance.

Ice time is so limited that time on the ice needs to be used as efficiently as possible.  I believe the MAXIMUS device can be used when doing lap-work, stop and starts, or any high-intensity drills that last anywhere between 20 to 60 seconds.  Mistakes on the ice are made when fatigued and poor decisions can cost teams games or injuries.

I believe all training should be recorded and measured when using this product. Timing your drills with unrestricted airflow, then repetitiously training with MAXIMUS while restricting airflow.  Getting athletes working out with restricted airflow to the lungs, stimulating both lungs and heart to work harder to complete drills, will undoubtedly improve conditioning.  This will allow every team member maximum efficiencies in training and ice time.

Off-ice usage of MAXIMUS Fitness Accelerator - HIIT - High-Intensity Interval Training such as sprinting coupled with lower intensity jogging. Running or biking intervals of 30 sec at maximum speed, followed by 60-90 seconds of low-intensity jogging or cycling for 8 to 10 reps, is a good starting point to improve and push the lactate threshold.  The lactate threshold will improve by using this device, timing every drill, and a heart monitor to benchmark workout intensity and time to recovery.

The higher your level of conditioning, the harder it is to get your heart rate up.  MAXIMUS RMT device can shorten that time and potentially prevent overtraining.  Practice should also always be more complex than games; thus, using MAXIMUS Fitness Accelerator in training will make your players much more effective when breathing without airflow restrictions during game situations.